Assessment: Festool TXS 18 – FineWoodworking

May 1, 2024

2 Views 0

SaveSavedRemoved 0

**Compact, versatile, and highly effective.** The TXS 18 is lighter and extra compact than its predecessor, with the identical energy and the identical progressive chuck system.

Festool TXS 18: $500 for full equipment; $250 for naked instrument

FESTOOL IMPROVED ITS HIGHLY RATED cordless drills in 2023, so we determined to present its hottest mannequin a attempt. With energy equal to previous 18-volt fashions, in response to Festool, the TXS 18 is each lighter weight and extra compact, and provides a piece mild and a belt clip (which mounts on both aspect of the instrument).

The compact design is sort of 2 in. shorter than my 18-volt Milwaukee, and a pound lighter. Regardless of its smaller stature, nonetheless, the TXS 18 was capable of drive an enormous field of 365 21⁄2-in.-long screws into pine, with sufficient battery energy left to again out 205 of them, whereas the Milwaukee battery minimize out after driving 313 screws.

Austin holds a festool drill, driving a screw into a 2x4, he has already driven 100's of screws. — **Distinctive driver.** The 18-volt Festool drill-driver simply outdrove Heitzman’s 18-volt Milwaukee mannequin, whereas weighing a pound much less.

Festool’s intelligent three-chuck system additionally makes the TXS 18 extra versatile than normal cordless drills. There’s a regular chuck that accepts spherical bits, a quick-release chuck for hex-shank bits, and a right-angle chuck that matches into tight areas. All three connect rapidly and positively to the drill.

Austin Chucks a brad point bit into a Festool drill. — **Unmatched versatility.** Three chucks—normal (above), quick-change (under), and right-angle—pop on and off to deal with any scenario.

There may be one slight disadvantage. Customary North American hex-shank bits are only a tiny bit too massive to lock into Festool’s quick-release chuck, so that you’ll most likely wind up shopping for a set of Festool’s hex-shank bits. Nonetheless, you’ll discover that normal hexshank bits do match into the magnetic bit holder, so you should use that in a pinch.

The total TXS 18 equipment comes with two batteries and all three chucks. For half the worth you should buy the naked instrument (TXS 18-Fundamental), which incorporates the usual chuck and no batteries.

—Austin Heitzman is an expert furnishings maker in Portland, Ore.
Photographs: Asa Christiana
From Advantageous Woodworking #310.

Festool TXS 18

2 x BP 18 Li 4,0 HPC-ASI battery pack; fast charger TCL 6; CENTROTEC BH 60 CE Imp magnetic bit holder; CENTROTEC Chuck; AN-XS right-angle adapter; FastFix keyless chuck 3/8“ (10 mm); BKS SYS3 D5 PZ TX 100 CE bit cassette; bit PH 2; Belt clip; Systainer SYS3 DF M 187

Value: $499 on the time of writing